The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-08-24
THE COUNTRY'S CROPS.
August Reports Received by thu
Agricultural Department.
Disastrous Result of the Prolonged
Drought in the West.

The following crop reports have been re-
ceived by tho Agricultural Department at
Washington:
The prospect month ago was for very
heavy crop of corn and rate of yield about
the average. Its condition in all the States OF
the Atlantic coast is now unimpalred and or
very high promise In Texas and Tennessee the
condition has declined materially. In the cen
tral corn region, however, in the valleys OF
the Ohio and Missouri, where two-thirds of the
cropis grown and the commercial supply is
procured, q very heavy reduction has taken
place. which has made the national average
S0.7 instead of g.T last month. The cause
is the longcontinued drought, which has
been severest i'll Kansas, Illinois, In
diana, Ohio and Michigan. Nebraska has
been Scorched on the southern border, and
Iowa and Missouri have escaped with COM
paratively light loss, as have the more north
ern States. The seven corn surplus States
stand as follows: Ohio, So; Indiana, CT: Hi
nois, G5; Iowa, 30; Missouri, 81; Kansas, GO;
Nebraska, -.
The condition of spring wheat, reported
very low last month from the raraSeS or
fallen off very slightly, the average being
78S, two points less than the August returns
of last year. Dakota has made slight gain
and stands highest in condition. The average
for Wisconsin is 73 Minnesota "a, Iowa ~,
Nebraska Il, Dakota SS. In the extreme
East and on the Pacific coast the condition of
spring wheat is high. There is no report of
winter wheat this month, as it is too early to
obtain results of threshing.
In the oats crop there is no change. A part
of the breadth was harvested at the last re-
port. The condition averages $50, which
indicates crop slightly under average.
The barley crop promises to yield rather
better than was feared last month. The East
ern product averages higher condition, but is
reduced slightly since the last report. The
average is S6.e, indicating nearly an average
yield.
The buckwheat area appears to be prac-
tically the same as last year and averages
about 93 in condition.
There is great reduction since July in the
condition of potatoes, almost entirely tie re-
suit of drought. THERE'S no material decline
on the Atlantic or Gulf coast, but the injury
is severe in the West. The los; during the
month is fully 20 per cent. of the prospective
crop.
The fruit crop is very poor. There will be
few apples outside of New England and New
York. There will be partial crop in Michi-
gan. In the Ohio River States the harvest
will be nearly a failure.
The hay crop is also greatly reduced in the
West. The general average is 81.
The past month has been favorable to cot
ton. In the Eastern belt excess of moisture
predominateS as factor of depreciation. The
weed is therefore large and sappy, and fruit
fall appears in some fields seriously, and in
some cases rust appears. In Louisiana similar
conditions have prevailed, and only very par
TALLY in Mississippi. Texas has been too
dry, though drought has not as yet been dis
astrous or severe. The prevalent status of
the crop is very good for the 1st Of August,
while reporters recognize this rs n critical
time and fear the effect of subsequent
drought upon the green and succulent
condition of the plant In a COM
parison of ten years the August
condition is only exceeded by that Of 1852 and
1885, one producing large crop, the other
an under medium yield. The general average
of condition is 93.3, which is lower by
over three points than that of July.
The State averages are: Virginia,
81; North Carolina, 9S; South Carolina, IS;
Georgia, "a: Florida, 96; Alabama, g3;
Mississippi, 81; Louisiana, 81; Texas, 81;
Arkansas, 81; Tennessee, 95.
The tobacco crop is in high condition
in the seed-leaf States, averaging nearly 100,
except in Wisconsin. The shipping and
cutting districts of the West make an
unprecedented report of low conditions: Ten
nessec, 70; Kentucky, -; Ohio, G5: Indiana,
80; Illinois, SO; Missouri, 81. In view of the
heavy reduction in acreage, only a small
fragment of the usual crop may be expected.
The official investigation of area, now in
progress, will determine authoritatively the
breadth cultivated the present year.